By golly, 'Saturday Night Live' viewers prefer the real Sarah Palin

"Saturday Night Live" and Tina Fey may mercilessly mock Sarah Palin.

But, goldarnit, they're mercilessly mocking her all the way to one of the banks still in business.

The Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate has become a genuine media star, guaranteeing high ratings even for an actress such as Fey pretending to be her.

But last night with the real Sarah Palin on board, "SNL" enjoyed its highest ratings in 14 years -- since the first Clinton term in 1994 when figure skater Nancy Kerrigan and soul singer Aretha Franklin teamed up on the show.

Final Nielsen figures will be out later this week. But early estimates put the average audience at 14 million, with the largest number at 17 million for the show's first half-hour, when Palin appeared in the long opening skit. And then she appeared again later in the News Update section.

To see videos of both segments, click on the Read more line below here.

— Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: David Karp / Associated Press

Here are the two "SNL" videos with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from NBC Oct. 18, 2008:

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Comments

[Deepwater805]

What can you say? She's a babe, and Hollywood loves babes. It's what makes this town spin, even if it is from NYC......

[Chuck Terzella]

Of couse, they all tuned in to see if Gov. Palin would screw up. Again

[whatever]

wrong

i tuned in to watch tina fey

it was a pretty lame show

[Vic Arpeggio]

By golly, the opening bit was genuinely funny. And this is from someone who hates Sarah Palin. The "Weekend Update" skit, however, was insufferable-- making Palin look like an utter buffoon.

[Steve]

She's awesome.

She would also make a great president.

I'd rather look at her for the next 4 years than watch Obama try to fake crip-walk his way through the presidency.

Why do people still stand by Obama? The same reason prostitutes don't run away from their pimp...

"He's so cool and calm"

Makes a lot of people feel safe in scary times. A lot of dumb people.

[Barbara Saxby]

For you to think that people tuned into SNL because they are FANS of Palin is crazy - not her demographic kids. They tuned in to see how SNL would skewer her and how she would react.....we all love a train wreck, right? She is a complete joke and this show is the best way to get the point across.

[Joe 6 pack]

I agree with "whatever" - millions of viewers tuned in to see Sarah Palin screw up. Like in the VP debate, she managed to survive, but mostly because she hardly uttered a dozen sentences during the whole show.

Sarah Palin looks great, but I doubt her artistic abilities.

Tina Fey should run with McCain, that would boost his ratings.

[milquetoast]

Wrong! The first skit was uncomfortable, even though Sarah said her lines like a pro. It was the others who looked uncomfortable around her. Marky Mark came in and mumbled something threatening to Lorne Michaels, who himself looked unsure, giving nothing back to Sarah. The worst was Alec Baldwin, who rushed in and did his bit like a child being made to pull weeds on a Saturday afternoon! Tina Fey was great! Sarah was the straight man to the women on SNL, who really don't care for her at all and did their best to satirize the hell out of her- but she took it very well. Amy Poehler was great with the rap I understand was written by Seth Meyers. Sarah did her part in a choreographed head bob that matched Seth's, and even "raised the roof". She ended by using her talents as a former sports reporter and said "I'm Sarah Palin. Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorroooowww." She came across very well in enemy territory. Those who hate her will hate her more. Those who like her will continue to also, but there will be no bump in the polls. Evidently, only the ratings! Tina's where she is today because of Sarah, period!

[cliff Schuman]

are you crazy.. sarah seemed uncomfortably going along with it. saying her line or 2 without any enthusiasm. She obviously has no sense or irony to actually make fun of herself because she is a dim wit and a hardly one dimensional.. Obviously people were curious to see the 2 together, but she proved as a political player and an actress a complete fake and dud. Anybody who thinks she was "great" on the show are as delusional as she is.. After she was accused of abusing her power in Alaska, she responded by saying that she was glad that she was "cleared". Just like her supporters who are drowning in their own debt and lack of opportunity, but delude themeselves that Sarah is their candidate.. Yes, all for your hypocritical morals, republican sheep... Love the fetus,hate the child..

[JOSEPH]

LARGEST RATINGS IN 14 YEARS;
Does this mean that the santed polls are all wrong, and there will be a landside election because of Sarah palin. I think that it is entirely possible. Everywhere she goes, people love her. She is so real. She is so qualified as the governor of Alaska, which makes her the Commander in Cheif of the only full time active duty National Guard in the country.
She understands protecting our borders like the one with Russia.
Come on! She is the election.
Thank you Sarah Palin.
I tried to watch SNL so I could see Sarah Palin. The rest of the SNL was boring. Where do you find such no-talent and call it a show. Boring except fort Sarah Palin
JJS

[beingajoe]

They did not let her do anything. I dont know if it was the McCain campaign or SNL not finding her capable. I wonder what the rehearsals were like. By the way, here is a website I found that shares all the Sarah Palin dirt to support Barack Obama! www.palinspin.com

[Vanessa]

I saw NO train wreck - only a very poised woman with a great sense of humor. I too would love to see her as our president some day. I will definitely vote for her and McCain!

God bless America

[Stan]

It may have been missed by most viewers, but Palin did a spot-on imitation of Fey at the end of Weekend Update. Watch it again, it was the best part of the show.

[andrea coffer]

I am disappointed in this country. Families are in a disarray because of plants closings and such. GM and Chrysler employees are sitting on edge not knowing whether they will be able to feed their families, while our prospective VP candidate is doing a comedic skit on SNL. What a slap in the American people's face. I wonder what our forefathers (black and white) would have to say about this desparate jesture.

[Jess]

The only reason she took it so well is because she is too stupid to relize that they were making fun of her. Even if she is good on SNL that does not mean she will be a good VP. If McCain gets elected and dies we are all screwed.

[Alison]

Nope, you are wrong!!! I -- and tons of my friends and family members, even more liberal ones -- tuned into SNL to see Sarah because we LIKE HER! And she did great, so the joke is on you!

[Cy Tott]

PALIN SHINES LIKE THE SUN, you can't blame Tina Fey for running off so they couldn't be compared side by side.
"Cuz there ain't nuthin like the real thing baby,
ain't nuthin' like the real thing!" Go McCain/Palin '08

[Working girl for Palin]

The real reason why Sarah Palin is getting so much publicity and why some hate her so much is she is a potential threat for the next presidential election. She is getting groomed for the next four years (no matter who wins this election). If McCain wins, he'll probably be less electable in four years b/c of age...so in walks Palin. If Obama wins, here she comes able to match tit for tat and keep a smile on her face. As a working girl, I"m pulling for Palin 100%. Shoots like a man, dresses to kill. What more can we ask for from a woman political figure?

[Michael Kelly in Cincinnati, Ohio]

Aaaaah, Sarah, what a Babe! And, frankly, I could care less if She knows anything about "Foreign Policy" right now, or "Economic Theory", or Blah, blah, blah! When THAT BABE (no, I didn't say THAT ONE) can go over to Pakistan and allure and enthrall President Zardari like She did, and even cause Zardini to publicly adore Her while knowing he could face a Fatwa (Death Sentence) for it under Islamic Sharia Law, then She has SOMETHING that neither Obama, Biden or McCain have, which I would call that FEMININE MYSTIQUE THAT MAKES THINGS GOOD HAPPEN! Who needs "Good Ol' Boys" in DC when we can have GODDESSES WITH DRAWING AND CREATIVE POWER? Oh, Good Goddess, grant US this day, we pray, relief from Financial Crisis, Wars, Rumors of Wars, Good Ol' Boys, Religious Nutcases, the High-Minded and High-Browed Liberal Media Elite, etcetera, etcetera, and in place of these EVILS grant US All, Love, Prosperity and Happiness! Amen.

[Jennifer]

Barbara Saxby, I hate women like you. Bitter, nasty, jealous and thoroughly hypocritical. Your criticism of Palin is never rational, fair, or balanced.

You just loathe someone who you know deep down is a better woman than you are because she had the integrity and heart not to abort her child, and you aren't good enough to make the same decision.

[Jay Rogers]

People take something that is meant to be silly and fun and turn it into a serious debate. On that note, the appearance can only helpf McCain/Palin because it humanizes her. She is not a cartoon character or a doltish "Caribou Barbie," but a savvy woman who would be LOVED by the left if she were only a pro-choice Democrat and everything else about her was exactly the same. The media reports half-truths -- that Joe the Plumber doesn''t have is a license -- the implication being he is a criminal. Turns out that in Ohio, you don't have to have a license if you work for a company that does. But they don't tell you that. That is the sad tactic of this election.

[Vera]

I loved the rap skit. I'm an Obama gal but nice to see that Sarah Palin went along with this and everyone had fun.
Long live Entertainment. Thanks SNL (And Amy!)

[Mark M.]

I watch SNL occassionally, I support Palin, and tuned in to see if there was going to be a reprise of the clever writing on the Fannie Freddie/CSPAN skit of last week.

Was anybody else suprised at how bad this show was? They billed it like she was going to be in few skits, but she had a total of around three lines of dialog. SNL usually has several decent skits per night, but this one had dud after dud. Pathetic that the most memorable line of the night was: "Nobody watches 30 Rock anyway."

[Vicki]

Sarah Palin showed what a classy lady she really is.

[mary]

I am impressed. I was on the fence, but now I see another side of Palin. It has changed my view of the Republican camp. Thank you SNL

[Lea]

Ha, Ha. [/Nelson]

I thought the Moose skit was the funniest thing I've seen on SNL for years!

[Elvira]

Sarah Palin has a Great Attitude, Great Job Sarah.

[Sharon Fisher]

I think she is great. What a woman!!! Pro life, anti gun control, beauty, brains and a sense of humor.

[Donna Schmidt]

SNL is an iconic show... There are always surprises like Palin in the flesh--she really didn't seem to enjoy the opportunity but went through the motions. Everyone else had fun at her expense. I don't think it can help her or the ticket in the polls. But it was good for a few laughs.

[BEA]

I'm not sure why Sarah Palin agreed to go on such a lame show as SNL. She doesn't need them, THEY NEED HER. Does anyone stay awake during the McGrubber snooze-fests? I haven't watched SNL for years and gave it a shot this week because of Sarah. Now I know why I haven't watched SNL since Gilda Radner days and "Ba-ba Wa-wa." Now THAT was funny. The last skit with the moose looked like a kindergarten production, which I guess is what SNL has become. And Alec Baldwin did well not to cuss and slam any phones down. I honestly didn't know who Tina Fay was until Sarah came on the scene. At least admit Alec was right -- she does look better than Fey/Fay/Fake, whatever her name is.

[Lissa Menyhart]

The McCain camp is still scrambling to find some avenue the will endear Sarah Palin to the American Public. What the camp has refused to accept is that America sees Sarah Palin for who and what she is. She's great for SNL ratings but a disaster as a running mate in the quest for the Presidency. How could John McCain have been so short sighted?

[Rob]

Which genius came up with that idea to have her go on SNL? Sure it was good for SNL, but to see her made a fool like that? Just to show her "good nature?" If all she wanted to do was to please voters, she would have done way better by pole dancing!

[Karen]

Don't care what you say--Sarah Palin rocks.

[JTP]

This skit was hilarious, but Sarah Palin didn't participate. All she did for the whole show (as far as I can tell), was deliver the "Live from New York" opening line and give a couple of lines about how she was not going to participate. She let the SNL crew do all the jokes, which is fine, but why bother to be there if you aren't going to participate?

[fippin]

Kudos to palin for going along with the fun. B.O. would never take the criticism.

[Jeremy]

The opening skit was very funny. Palin and Baldwin were simply hilarious and Tina was spot on as ever. The rap, however, while funny in of itself, was awkward when it came to Palin. I didn't like her just sitting their, stiffly bobbing from side to side, not participating. I heard that the rap was originally designed for her, but I don't know why they thought she would do that.

I wish Obama would go on SNL, but I also know that that simply isn't going to happen this close to the election.

[Carol]

That anyone would consider voting for the ticket of which Governor Palin is a part, when the presidential candidate is a man in his early 70s, is ... blood curdling.

This woman, the commander in Chief of the Unites States military?

This woman, nominating justices of the Supreme Court of the United States?

This woman, leading our country out of economic, and the world out of environmental, disaster?

BECAUSE SHE LOOKS GOOD??

And to the person who thinks Senator Obama can't take criticism ... if that's your best thinking you should just stop trying. As the first African-American elected to the Harvard Law Review, and the son of a black father and a white mother, Senator Obama knows everything there is to know about taking criticism, most especially when it's baseless.

[mike]

She is classy and seems to have her head on straight. The America (USA) I want follows the principles she talks about. Our government is great but there are those in Washington that thinks our tax money is theres for the taking and i think she would clean Washington up and make our country even better.

[Debra]

It is so very scary that McBush will probably be elected because idiots think his running mate is hot... I hope he doesn't die while in office because "Her field is ENERGY and all she knows is ENERGY" which means eveything else will be SCREWED! Good luck America.

[Sandi]

Sarah Palin is a classy lady who would do this country some good. I applaud her for her tenacity and good-natured attitude, even with the wolves barking and seething all around her. I hope she has the chance to prove her integrity to an America who apparently doesn't deserve good leadership.

[John M]

It's amazing the hate that pours out! Sarah made it to governor based on her accomplishments and her strong beliefs, which at times were against her own party! Why do libs feel the need to absolutely crucify anyone who doesn't believe what they believe. You want change, then change the politics that has ruled washngton (and Chicago) for way too long.

[Yankee stuck in NJ]

If DAN I CANNOT SPELL QUAYLE CAN BE VICE PRESIDENT, WHY NOT SARAH I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT POLITICS PALIN? The American people might as well go to hell in a hand basket. Obama is going to TAX THE HECK OUT OF EVERYONE he can find and give it back to those poor darlings who could not afford the adjustable rate mortgages they were NOT QUALIFIED TO GET IN THE FIRST PLACE.

McCain at least has sound fiscal policy and will use tax credits to give Americans a choice over their healthcare. McCain is not going to tax small businesses because they -- HELLO -- CREATE JOBS that ORDINARY PEOPLE NEED. HELLO -- tax treatment for Corporations is designed to STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND -- CREATE JOBS

SARAH PALIN DOES NOT HAVE TO BE QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT -- SHE'S GOING TO BE VICE PRESIDENT -- AND MCCAIN -- THAT TOUGH BASTARD -- IS NOT GOING TO DIE -- HE'S GOING TO SAVE OUR ASSES WHEN OUR ENEMIES TEST WHOEVER IS THE NEW PRESIDENT IN PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, AND WHEREVER ELSE THEY CAN. OUR ENEMIES KNOW MCCAIN WILL NOT HESITATE.

WE NEED A TESTED LEADER. OBAMA IS BRILLIANT - - LET HIM WAIT FOUR MORE YEARS -- MCCAIN IS THE RIGHT GUY FOR THE JOB RIGHT NOW -- AND SARAH PALIN IS A COMPETENT RIGHT HAND FOR VP ... AT LEAST, SHE CAN'T BE ANY WORSE THAN DAN PLEASE GET A DICTIONARY QUAYLE

GIVE US ALL A BREAK!!!

[browneyes]

Palin is a real sport. Props to her. She's 100 times better looking than Tina Fey, and 100 times more gracious. People have taken their criticism of her to a new level. It's not enough to disagree...things have escalated in election bitterness. Now it's just personal attacks. She's handled it like a pro. I enjoyed watching her on SNL, and she took it all in stride even knowing the entire cast and crew are anti-republican and making moves to dis her at every corner. Like I said, props to her.